Skullduggery (1983) is the kind of Canadian horror film that invites viewers to settle in for a strange, rough-edged ride into supernatural madness. Directed by Ota Richter, this obscure horror outing centers on a cursed man and a killing spree, offering the sort of grim premise that sounds tailor-made for fans of forgotten genre cinema. It isn't polished prestige horror, and that's part of its appeal: this is the territory where ambition, low-budget filmmaking, and questionable decisions can produce something memorable for all the wrong reasons.
A Curse, a Role-Playing Game, and Absolute Nonsense
Adam's predicament becomes increasingly bizarre when a mysterious magician convinces him that he is a warlock, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. The movie also features a group of young adults connected through a costume rental business and a fantasy role-playing game. Naturally, what begins as make-believe turns into a series of increasingly strange and violent events.
The premise sounds like it could produce a genuinely creepy supernatural slasher. Unfortunately, Skullduggery seems determined to take the scenic route through every odd idea its filmmakers could squeeze into the story. There are amateur theatrical performances, occult shenanigans, strange riddles, and a wandering janitor with a tic-tac-toe game on his back. Yes, really. Apparently, even the janitorial staff has time for side quests.
The movie's pacing doesn't exactly help. Scenes can drag, the performances vary wildly, and some moments feel as though they wandered in from an entirely different production. Yet that very awkwardness gives the film its peculiar charm. You never quite know whether the next scene will deliver a creepy murder, an incomprehensible supernatural revelation, or something that makes you question whether the filmmakers were playing a different game altogether.
Final Verdict
Skullduggery is a wonderfully strange piece of obscure Canadian horror that mixes Satanic curses, fantasy gaming, murder, and accidental comedy into an experience that's difficult to forget. It isn't particularly polished or consistently frightening, but it has a wonderfully unhinged personality.
Fans of slick, conventional horror will probably find it frustrating. Viewers who appreciate movies that go completely off the rails may discover a new favorite cinematic oddity.
A Curse, a Role-Playing Game, and Absolute Nonsense
Adam's predicament becomes increasingly bizarre when a mysterious magician convinces him that he is a warlock, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. The movie also features a group of young adults connected through a costume rental business and a fantasy role-playing game. Naturally, what begins as make-believe turns into a series of increasingly strange and violent events.
The premise sounds like it could produce a genuinely creepy supernatural slasher. Unfortunately, Skullduggery seems determined to take the scenic route through every odd idea its filmmakers could squeeze into the story. There are amateur theatrical performances, occult shenanigans, strange riddles, and a wandering janitor with a tic-tac-toe game on his back. Yes, really. Apparently, even the janitorial staff has time for side quests.
The movie's pacing doesn't exactly help. Scenes can drag, the performances vary wildly, and some moments feel as though they wandered in from an entirely different production. Yet that very awkwardness gives the film its peculiar charm. You never quite know whether the next scene will deliver a creepy murder, an incomprehensible supernatural revelation, or something that makes you question whether the filmmakers were playing a different game altogether.
Final Verdict
Skullduggery is a wonderfully strange piece of obscure Canadian horror that mixes Satanic curses, fantasy gaming, murder, and accidental comedy into an experience that's difficult to forget. It isn't particularly polished or consistently frightening, but it has a wonderfully unhinged personality.
Fans of slick, conventional horror will probably find it frustrating. Viewers who appreciate movies that go completely off the rails may discover a new favorite cinematic oddity.
Review posted
October 23, 2026